Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

Originally Posted by zer0cool Nah, I just want the right to cancel without penalty if they stop providing me with the services I had when I signed the contract. (Of course, by that token, Dish would have the right to increase my bill every time they added a new channel).

Or just give me the choice on whether I want to pay extra for AMC...

I understand why Dish has to negotiate the way it does, I just wish both sides could be more honest about it.

They don't have that right currently?

Of course they do, and sometimes they exercise that right. My point was that I, like the vast majority on here, tend to whine about wanting certain channels added, but we don't want our bills raised. ("Dish better add channel blah-blah, in HD or I'm switching. "Dish better increase my monthly bill or i'm switching")

If I buy a car, I select the options I want it to have and work out a price structured to require me to make a payment of, we'll say $300 per month.If six months later, the car dealership decides to remove my windshield wipers, whether I use them or not, I'm going to be pissed off. Maybe they did this because Windshield Wipers Inc. notified the dealership they were going to charge them an extra $1000 for every car they sold with windshield wipers installed. So, the dealership, knowing I'm not going to be willing to pay an extra $1500 (gotta' figure in some markup), just removes the option.Still, I don't care why they did it, I still need my wipers! And I'm angry at both the dealership and the makers of the wipers in equal measure, because they should just work it out so their most important asset, the customer, continues to get what they paid for.

I'll weigh in here. I'm on the fence about switching over from D, and I thought this might make me not want to switch. Then, after thinking about it, it's no big deal as I have netflix alreaday. The fact that I'll get FSC in HD with the 250 pack will still probably entice me. But it does make me nervous for the future as far as what I may lose channel wise within my 2 year commitment.

Could it? don't think it helped when it came to G4 on DirecTV,G4 went bye bye.

Facts are both satellite providers have reserved the right to change programming or prices if they have to.

While its true that both carriers reserve the right to drop channels, G4 was an extremely insignificant channel with a miniscule viewership. Its akin to the hypothetical situation of D* dropping QVC (IMO G4 was so bad it should have had to pay Directv to carry them like QVC does) vs Dish dropping something like USA networks.

Fact of the matter is, D* has shown a lot less willingness to drop popular channels than Dish. But I still commend Dish for having the guts to stand up against the excessive price increases by the content providers who over value their content.

Dish can't charge you for a channel they don't have. But Dish dropping AMC is just one channel in a package... If Dish dropped the whole package, then you have a point.

You can drop AT250 or whatever as soon as AMC goes dark... so you won't be paying for a channel/package they dropped!

IF Dish ever lost something like HBO, then you wouldn't be able to subscribe to that a la carte channel.

So... the arguments over "they can't charge me for something they dropped" really are strawman arguments.

IF the only reason you are on AT200 or AT250 or whatever is for one particular channel... then when Dish drops that channel, you drop that tier, and you are missing a channel BUT you aren't paying for it either. Done and done.

I'll weigh in here. I'm on the fence about switching over from D, and I thought this might make me not want to switch. Then, after thinking about it, it's no big deal as I have netflix alreaday. The fact that I'll get FSC in HD with the 250 pack will still probably entice me. But it does make me nervous for the future as far as what I may lose channel wise within my 2 year commitment.

The real concern for me is not that Dish is dropping AMC, or that they no longer have ESPN News in HD, or that they no longer have Disney in HD or that they said they would have the RSN's in HD 24/7. But, do you see a pattern? That's my concern. When Dish ads a channel at no cost increase to us I feel that they consider that a good marketing vs. customer relations move and falls within their profit structure. I certainly appreciate it even if I never watch that channel. Maybe they could develop another Platinum Package and include AMC. Just a thought.

Dish can't charge you for a channel they don't have. But Dish dropping AMC is just one channel in a package... If Dish dropped the whole package, then you have a point.

You can drop AT250 or whatever as soon as AMC goes dark... so you won't be paying for a channel/package they dropped!

IF Dish ever lost something like HBO, then you wouldn't be able to subscribe to that a la carte channel.

So... the arguments over "they can't charge me for something they dropped" really are strawman arguments.

IF the only reason you are on AT200 or AT250 or whatever is for one particular channel... then when Dish drops that channel, you drop that tier, and you are missing a channel BUT you aren't paying for it either. Done and done.

Not so. They're dropping the whole network, which is 4 channels not 1. It's a big deal.

Sad part is I'll have to quit satellite entirely because now my cable company is the only place left that has all the channels I want.

The real concern for me is not that Dish is dropping AMC, or that they no longer have ESPN News in HD, or that they no longer have Disney in HD or that they said they would have the RSN's in HD 24/7. But, do you see a pattern? That's my concern. When Dish ads a channel at no cost increase to us I feel that they consider that a good marketing vs. customer relations move and falls within their profit structure. I certainly appreciate it even if I never watch that channel. Maybe they could develop another Platinum Package and include AMC. Just a thought.

The good thing is, I've been with D a long time, so I'm not under contract with anyone at the moment. Honestly, going under contract with any provider makes me nervous, the way they seem to play russian roulette with channels.

Sad part is I'll have to quit satellite entirely because now my cable company is the only place left that has all the channels I want.

I went to satellite for several reasons:

Satellite had a clear picture; cable was crummy

Satellite had channels my cable system didn't have.

Satellite was less expensive.

Now that Mediacom has gone digital, 1 does not apply. 2 still does; see below, and so does 3. But there's less a reason for me to avoid cable than there has been.

And in my case, no provider has all the channels I want. DirecTV doesn't have BBCA, HLN, H2, NGeoW in HD or all my locals in HD. DISH doesn't have ESPNU in HD, GOL-TV at all, and soon the AMC networks, unless things change. Mediacom doesn't have MLB, NBA, NHL networks. So I guess I go with the provider that has the fewest omissions!

-- Ira

================================================"There are no solutions to complex problems" -- Stan Littman, longtime social studies teacher at The Bronx High School of Science

Now that Mediacom has gone digital, 1 does not apply. 2 still does; see below, and so does 3. But there's less a reason for me to avoid cable than there has been.

And in my case, no provider has all the channels I want. DirecTV doesn't have BBCA, HLN, H2, NGeoW in HD or all my locals in HD. DISH doesn't have ESPNU in HD, GOL-TV at all, and soon the AMC networks, unless things change. Mediacom doesn't have MLB, NBA, NHL networks. So I guess I go with the provider that has the fewest omissions!

Those were my main reasons for switching to satellite years ago as well. Cable will cost me more in the long run, but at least it has all the HD Dish has plus AMC, Disney, and a few others, and no contract or equipment to buy. DirecTV isn't in the ballpark anymore due to the channels you listed and several others like G4, DIY and TCM. If I were a big sports fan it would be a different story. But in my case, cable has the fewest omissions, unfortunately.

With the SDV conversions, my cable system has added a huge number of channels. I wouldn't have even considered cable a few months ago. But the situation has changed very dramatically, very quickly.

I love my new Hopper, so I hate to leave. But losing AMC, IFC and Sundance is too much. I did the math, and the new customer deal will cover my ETF and what I wasted on my Hoopper and will continue to be cheaper over all until about the 5 year mark.

And If anyone one thinks this isn't already a done deal, just download the latest channel lineup cards. AMC, IFC, Sundance and WE are nowhere to be found. And the promised replacements for them are also nowhere to be found.

And If anyone one thinks this isn't already a done deal, just download the latest channel lineup cards. AMC, IFC, Sundance and WE are nowhere to be found. And the promised replacements for them are also nowhere to be found.

As stated multiple times already this is in no way , shape or form a Indicator that the negotiations are over, or as you say "a done deal".

This information can be edited, redacted and backed up in seconds. Dish is just preparing for the worst, the last thing they want is people calling in in 2 months time citing the AMC take down and it being online in a line up chart as a way out of there contract.

My suggestion is, dont look for insignificant little changes to the website as an indicator that the negotiations are over. Hell if the channels taken down that doesnt mean much, as we've seen in the past they can still pop right back up.

For those of you considering leaving over this I suggest just waiting till the fat lady sings, instead of getting up and leaving when shes walking to the stage.By the time this is over atleast your ETF will be a tad bit cheaper should the worst happen.

Well, looks like I'll be staying with D*. And I was so close to switching to Dish. But with no Disney (little one loves Disney channels), no ESPNU and ESPN News, and now probably no AMC...it ain't happenin. Guess I will call D* and have them set me up with 2 more HD boxes and whole home DVR and get locked into another 2 year contract (sigh). Hopefully I can get them to set me up with an HR34 for a good price, as my HR23's are super slow.

The real concern for me is not that Dish is dropping AMC, or that they no longer have ESPN News in HD, or that they no longer have Disney in HD or that they said they would have the RSN's in HD 24/7. But, do you see a pattern? That's my concern. When Dish ads a channel at no cost increase to us I feel that they consider that a good marketing vs. customer relations move and falls within their profit structure. I certainly appreciate it even if I never watch that channel. Maybe they could develop another Platinum Package and include AMC. Just a thought.

I think it's fair to say at least at this point Dish is more prone to these disputes. I would also say other providers are starting to make noise to do the same thing if needed. Most channels do return, as you point out not all or with Disney not in HD.Putting all AMC into something like the platinum package is not a far fetched idea, here's the problem. Would AMC actually do that, and does Dish want to try and keep them by working things out.